AP launches redesigned news app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

Award-winning AP Mobile app now features “Big Stories,” local coverage from 1,000+ sources, customization and embedded social media tools

NEW YORK -- The Associated Press today released a major redesign of its popular award-winning mobile news app, AP Mobile, featuring an all-new look, in-depth coverage of major stories and enhanced local news presentations from AP member newspapers and broadcasters around the country.

The new app has a powerful visual design that goes beyond the latest news headlines to introduce rich content experiences curated by editors just for the app. Two new enhancements in particular seek to differentiate it from other offerings: Big Stories and Local News. The new features are available exclusively at launch for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users.

“AP Mobile is now the most robust and easy-to-navigate app for news,” said Tom Curley, president and CEO of The Associated Press. “It combines customizable news feeds, news stories from local publications and breaking news from around the world all into one interface. The new design and feature set of the AP Mobile app set a new standard for how people consume news on their iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in what is sure to be an extraordinary year for news.”

Developed by The Associated Press, the AP Mobile app is an award-winning multimedia news portal providing anytime access to international, national and local news from AP and other trusted sources. In the four years since its first release, AP Mobile has been downloaded by more than 3.5 million iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users.

The “Big Stories” section of the new app will feature in-depth major stories, told through text, photos, videos and interactive graphics. The app also includes a direct link for users to send news tips to AP. Throughout the year, the new app will give “Big Story” treatment to the national election and the Olympics, among other scheduled events and breaking news stories that capture the public’s attention.
“The application that first put all the news, from global to local, together in one place is now even better,” said Michael Boord, global director of AP Mobile. “Our goal is to give iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users unparalleled access to the breadth and depth of multimedia content from the AP and its membership.”

The Local News section will enable users to view stories from their favorite local publications by brand as well as by geographic location. Users can easily find local sources by entering the city or Zip Code of their choice. For the first time, content will be curated by participating publishers and broadcasters, who will be able to select the stories they feature from their own news reports.

In addition, the app provides enhanced display for both national and local advertisers. “Along with our goal of adapting to how people want to get their news, we believe our new look opens up exciting opportunities for sponsors and advertisers,” said Boord.

The app also represents the first external display of AP’s new visual identity and logo – the first in more than 30 years. The new logo will roll out to other AP properties in the coming months. The new brand platform will help unify all of AP’s business lines under one consistent look and logo and increase its market recognition as the definitive source for news.

“That’s why AP Mobile is so exciting,” said John Gullion, managing editor, the Citizen Tribune, Morristown, Tenn. “The knowledge and skills of the Associated Press team building cool new features while consistently improving existing ones combined with our local news content gives us a powerful tool to remain relevant. It’s a combination that we feel can help our paper – and our advertisers – increase our reach into the ever-growing digital market.”

The AP Mobile app is available for free from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch at www.iTunes.com/AppStore. Current users of the app can update to the new version through iTunes on their desktop or via the App Store app.

For more information on AP Mobile, visit the website at www.getapmobile.com

About The AP
The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half of the world’s population sees news from AP. On the Net: www.ap.org